Oct. 14, 2014
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini football team will honor Harold "Red" Grange, the Galloping Ghost, by wearing special "Gray Ghost" alternate uniforms for the Homecoming game on Oct. 25.
Grange is widely known as the greatest college football player of all time. The uniforms honor the 90th anniversary of his historic Homecoming performance against Michigan in the Memorial Stadium dedication game on Oct. 18, 1924. In that game, Grange scored four touchdowns and racked up 262 total yards in the first 12 minutes, then ran for a fifth touchdown and threw for a sixth later in the game to help Illinois hand the Wolverines their first loss in two years, 39-14.
Famed sports writer Grantland Rice tabbed Grange as a "gray ghost" following the Michigan Performance:
A streak of fire, a breath of flame
Eluding all who reach and clutch;
A gray ghost thrown into the game
That rival hands may never touch;
A rubber bounding, blasting soul
Whose destination is the goal.
Red Grange of Illinois!
-- Grantland Rice, 1924
"One of my favorite quotes about Red Grange, they described him as a gray ghost - super elusive, super fast - so we created a gray look for this game as an alternate," said Nike football designer Josh Iverson. "It has hidden details; think of this elusive ghost idea. The victory badge on the neck is tonal. You have to get close to see it. The helmet has special chrome decals that shift in and out of the white paint job. It's all about creating that elusive ghost Red Grange look for that game."
"Gray Ghost" replica jerseys will go sale Wednesday at , Gameday Spirit and other Illinois Athletics Nike retailers. The Fighting Illini will debut the "Gray Ghost" uniforms on Homecoming when the Minnesota Golden Gophers come to Memorial Stadium for an 11 a.m. CT kick. Tickets for the game are on sale now, including special $20 horseshoe tickets.
